The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-02
JAY GOULD.
He Finds the West and Southwest in De-
cidedly Prosperous Business Condition.

New YORK, Feb Jay Gould arrived in
weeks spent in thorough inspection of his
Southwestern railroads. He was at his Office in
the Western Union Building yesterday, and
nearly all day he was deeply immersed in
business. When he was somewhat at leisure he
said to Tribune reporter: 81 have been
through fourteen States since left home, not
to speak of looking over the border into Mexico.
went as far as Laredo. Mr.. Clark, who took
Mr. Hoxie's place, had not been over some of
our lines in Texas, and a part of the trip was
largely for his benefit, as general manager Of
the system. Everywhere in the West we found
confidence and prosperity the rule among bust
ness men. There is something very nearly ap-
preaching business boom at the West, and
the talk among all classes is confident and
courageous. The movement of merchandise on
the Missouri Pacific is extremely large. I have
a dispatch from Mr.. Clark. in which is given the
movement of freight trains Saturday and
Yesterday On Saturday it comprised 459
freight trains of Z 1916 cars, an increase of 22O
| time last year, and yesterday there were moved
4l6 freight trains, containing 6, 422 loads, an
| increase Of 162 trains and 2,4l0 loads over
the same day last year. Our business
along. and the Fact proves better, perhaps than
anything can say, the hopeful feeling through
out the West. find on my return that opinions
here seem to be greatly mixed. to say the least,
and am a little surprised after the experience
| of the past three weeks / do not think the pee-
| pie in the West regard the strike here as mat
ter Of great importance. At any rate, they did
| not seem to pay much attention to it. AS to the
interstate-commerce bill. they hope to derive a
great advantage from ii. 1t is rather curious
fact that the people who will be likely to suffer
most from the practical operations of the meas
ure are much more heartily in favor of it than
| the people of the East I know little about tn IL
| probable action of the President, but dispatch
was shown me Just now which stated that three
members of the Cabinet were opposed to it and
the others were In favor of it. / should think
| that the chances were about even that the
| President might sign or veto it. It would
| make him very popular with some classes if he
| should send out a ringing message il objection
| to the bill. There is one clause in it that
think is plainly unconstitutional, because, while
| Congress may have the right to regulate com
nerce between the States it can have no RICH,
| to delegate its authority to a third party, the
| commission that the bill establishes / believe
this view will be maintained by the courts whe1
the question comes before them. There will be
| some advantage derived from the law il the rail
| roads will live strictly ND to it's letter. 1t viii
| be shown how utterly inadequate legislation is
| In graphing with customs and regulations in
| transportation that have grown up with the de-
| velopment of our railroad system. If the rail
| road companies will closely follow the law il
will be repealed within six months. If they dc
| not do SO, but try to evade it, each for himself
we'll, it will be somebody to catch the hind
| most.n
Mr. Gould said that he had no information
whatever in regard to the reported new TELEGRAPH
line between Chicago and New York.